by Tirtha Acharya | Sep 26, 2016 | Yoga
Diabetes mellitus or simply diabetes is a group of metabolic disorder in which person has high blood sugar, either pancreas does not produce enough insulin or because cells do not respond to the insulin. The insulin which is produced by β-cell of the pancreas is not producing enough insulin as a result the volume of sugar in the blood get increase and lead to diabetes. The function of insulin is for carbohydrate metabolism and carry sugar from blood to the cell and maintain the sugar level in the blood. This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increase thirst), and polyphagia (increased hunger). There are lots of medicine for the treatment of diseases which cure for the duration of medication periods but cannot help to cure the disease permanently.
Yoga is the life science also called the yogic therapy which cures the disease if practice regularly twice a day. Diabetes often disappears in a week and does not recur at all after two or three months of continued treatment. The abdominal viscera, the pancreas and the liver and kidney are toned up by yogic therapy by increasing intra-abdominal pressure and activate of the nerves which control these organs. Paschimottaasana is the important asanas which stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin. When you maintain your body in Paschimottasana with normal breathing, the stomach gets compress and pancreas located behind the intestine also get a nice massage in this posture and makes pancreas healthier. And the next practices is Ardhra Matchyandra and Varkaasana is a twisting practice from the upper part where pancreas and stomach small intestine and increase circulation of blood in the endocrine glands and provide an environment for β-cell to produce enough insulin for proper functioning. Halaasana which is practices for healthy endocrine glands. In the final postures of Halasana, the large intestine compress the small intestine and also pancreas get a beautiful working environment for producing enough insulin for metabolism. Likewise, Mayurasana which has a direct effect on pancreas which provides pressure on the pancreas so stimulate it and also provide oxygen to the pancreas. There are some other practices also which is fruitful for diabetes people.
Likewise, Dhanurasana which has directly activate the sluggish to work properly. It compresses all the abdominal internal muscles and the pressure activates the pancreas. The pancreas is situated deep inside the abdominal cavity. The Dhanurasana tightens all abdominal muscles and by increasing the intra-abdominal pressure, reach the pancreas. This asana also helps to activate nerves of that regions.
Diabetes also occurs due to obese. When more fat and muscles deposited in the stomach it pushes pancreas so pancreas cannot work its function properly and goes to the crying of the pancreas. So some more asana is needed to reduce unnecessary fats from the stomach. Some practices like jogging, jumping, twisting, setup.
Only doing asana cure the disease at the slow rate. The breathing techniques practices with asanas provide the faster healing of the disease. For diabetes patient Naddhisuddhi, right nostril breathing techniques are practices and research show the good result and faster cure by daily practices of asana plus pranayama.
Oxygen is very much essential for the utilization of carbohydrate metabolism. If lungs provide enough oxygen to the pancreas so that it works effectively. Nadisuddhi directly affects the pancreas and the liver. During Nadisuddhi the diaphragm moves up and down under air pressure exerted by the lungs and compress the liver and the pancreas and provide adequate oxygen supply to the tissues. It provides a nice environment to rejuvenate the nerve supply to the pancreas.
There are various types of diabetes. Sometimes, diabetes occurs due to the disorder of the endocrine disorder. It means the main reason for diabetes may be due to thyroid or pituitary dysfunction. Though there is no defect in the pancreas, the amount of insulin is not producing. So this happens because of malfunction of endocrine to secrete the hormones properly. If we treat with asanas and pranayama which influence the thyroid gland to provide an environment to secret insulin and sugar excretion decreases.
Likewise, the next practices like Uddiyaana and Nauli are two kriyas which have very positive effect in diabetes mellitus. It is the movement of the stomach which gives strength to the body and also excess fats are removed. This practices influence all the abdominal viscera and remove the defect of the pancreas by activating them effectively. The pancreas and liver rejuvenated and diabetes disappears completely.
Thus, these are the practices for diabetes mellitus which can completely eradicate disorder with a guarantee of non-reoccurrence. It should be practice for 6 months to one year to eradicate the disease from the body and to leave a healthy and happy life.
Here are the main practice of yoga for diabetes.
- Paschimottan Asana
- Ardha Padma Paschimottan Asana
- Ardha Matsyendra Asana
- Meru Bakra Asana
- Mayur Asana
- Agnishar Kriya
- Nauli Kriya
- Kunjal Kriya
- Uddiyaana banda
- Nadi Sodhana pranayam
- Kapal Bhati Pranayam
- Some yogic jogging like jumping, twisting, setup etc.
Yogic diet for diabetes
The diet of diabetes should content all the essential nutrition for the management of carbohydrate absorption. Balanced Nutrition is necessary for diabetes people to slow down the carbohydrate absorbtion rate in the blood. Sattwick food which includes milk and yogurt, Bread, cereal, rice, fruits, starchy green vegetables like corn and beans are very beneficial as it helps in digestion and also control blood sugar. Fiber based food helps to lose weight. And three times meal in a day recommended. All the non-veg items are strictly prohibited. Complex carbohydrates are better because they take longer time to digest also gives you steady energy and fiber.
by Tirtha Acharya | Sep 26, 2016 | Yoga
Introduction of gastrointestinal system
The human gastrointestinal tract (GI tract or GIT) is an organ’s system responsible for transporting and digesting foodstuffs, absorbing nutrients, and expelling waste products. Gastrointestinal tract is divided into lower GI Tract and upper GI Tract. Upper GI Tracts consists of mouth, food pipe, stomach and duodenum wherease small intestine large intestine, colon, rectum, anus comes under lower GI Tracts. Secretin, gastrin are the hormone produce in GI Tract for digestion of food.
The mouth helps to chew the food make it into small piece and saliva mix with food so that it get form for digestion. Swallon food is received by the esophagus. By means of series of muscular contractions called peristalsis, the esophagus delivers food to your stomach. Food mix with different enzyemes in stomach which helps to break down into small pieces for easy digestion. The duodenum is largely responsible for the continuous breaking-down process, with the jejunum and ileum mainly responsible for absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream. The large intestine is a highly specialized organ that is responsible for processing waste so that emptying the bowels is easy and convenient.
Gastrointestinal diseases and its Cause
There are many intestinal disorder which effect our GIT. All the problem in the stomach is arise from psycic level (manomaya kosa). So before going to treat our stomach problem, we need to cure our disease our psychic level. Disease which arise in our psycic perculate in the pranamaya kosa and create disease in the physical body (ananmaya kosa).
Some of the gastrointestinal disease are as follow
Gastritis
Acid peptic ulcer
Constipation
Diaoherra
Acidity
Gastritis is the main problem ans it is characterize by the inflammation in the lining of the stomach. It may occur suddenly or slowly over time. In some cases, gastritis can lead to ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer.
The main cause of GIT problem arise from the sedentary lifestyle, wrong food habit, inflammation in the inner lining of stomach, infection and malabsorbtion disorder.
Treatment
Disease in GIT are recurring it can attack after the stoppage of medicine so only one dimensional treatment does not helps to cure the disease from root level. We are here to cure the disease from root level by giving treatment using the hoslistic practices.
YOGIC MANAGEMENT
Yoga is the holistic science which manage the disease of GIT from root level. Some of the beneficial practices for gastrointestinal disease are as follows:
Standing practices
Forward and backing movement
Twisting
Rotation of hip
Chandra asana
Sitting practices
Baddhakoasana
Butterfly movement (flapping of ur thign)
Ardamatyandra asana
Vakrasana
Paschimuktaasana
Janushirasana
Supine practices
Pawanamuktasana
Straight leg raising practices
Halaasana
Sarvanga asana
Rocking and rolling
naukasana
Prone practices
Bhujangaasana
Salamba asana
Pranayama (Breathing practices)
Naddhisuddhi
Bramari
Right nostril breathing
Left nostril breathing
Bastrika
Sectional breathing
Diet
Diet therapy is an important factor in overall care of GI patients. Diet plays a vital role for the proper function of the stomach. Food should be freash. Sattwik vegetable food is preferable. All the green leafy vegetable which produce antioxidant and provide soothe in our GI tract.
- Low fat diet because fat causes the production of a hormone that stimulates gallbladder contractions
- Dairy products should be minimized or eliminated
- Consumption of small frequent meals
- Less intake of carbohydrate food like legumes, soluble fiber, resistant starch, simple sugar such as fructose and alcohol sugar.
- Consumption of dietary fiber based green vegetable, fruits, cereal which soften the stool which is good for constipation.
- Intake food should be rich in fiber and also have excellent source of vitamins, minerals, trace element and antioxidant.
Satkarma
Satkarma is a very precise and systematic hoslistic science.The satkarma is briefly describe in hatha yoga pradipika. The sansskrit meaning of satkarma: sat is six and karma means actions. Satkarma consists of six internal purification techquies. It helps to create harmonies in the body by balancing the two pranic flow ida and pigala. The six satkarma are as follows;
- Dhauti
It is aslo called vamana dhouti which is the cleansing process of the upper gastrointestinal tract through lukewarm water.
- Nauli
A method of massaging and strengthen the abdominal organs.
- Kapalvati
It is a breathing techniques for purifying the brain and skull. It helps to create shining in the brain. It also strengthen the upper and lower GI tract.
Conclusion
Yoga is the holistic science which provide us many techniques to tone up our body internally and externally. Asana helps to strenthing our muscles and bones and pranayama which makes easy for pranic flow. The satkarma helps to cleansing our internal organ. Yoga provides positive energy in our human body without any side effects.
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by Tirtha Acharya | Sep 26, 2016 | Yoga
Adolescent is the time occurs from child to young age. The time of adulthoodness also called a teenager with complete changes in physical, psychological and social aspects with onset of puberty. This period mainly start at the age of 12 and end around the age of 21 with the development of primary sexual characteristics. It includes Major pubertal and biological changes include changes to the sex organs, height, weight, and muscle mass. Rapid change in reproductive organs and external genital organ also change in major function of brain structure. The females start to getting menstruation and the boy get change in their voice. Both get start to grow of hair in their armpit and also develop pubic hair. The secondary sexual characteristics like non reproductive traits such as breast and hips in girls and facial hair and deepening of voice in boys develop. Pubic hair and hair in the armpit grow in both sexes. Also there is develop in the cognitive like increase in the knowledge and also ability to think abstractly and reason more effectively. During adolescence neurons in the frontal cortex grow myelin which speeds up nerve conduction. Frontal cortex lags behind limbic system development. Hormonal surges and limbic system may explain teens’ occasional impulsiveness. Adolescence are the building block of the nation.
But in this modern era with the advancement of technology the adolescence are full by conflicts of values, emotional stress and readiness to extreme attitudes, which invariably leads to several psycho-social problems of adolescents. Prevalence of Adolescents between 10-19 years are potentially facing HIV. High morbidity and mortality associated with pubertal and adolescent pregnancy. Cultural practices often involve sexual abuse or exploitation. Boys and girls reveal a poor understanding of their sexuality and information sources seem to be media and peers. Early marriage in girls Increasing Population and being victims STIs due to unprotected sexual action.
Holistic management
Excessive stress is harmful and may lead to dropping out of life. To meet the demands of a modern life-style which is full of speed, stress and tension, an all-round child health program is becoming crucial day by day. The use of yoga for adolescence has diverse applications in maintaining and developing their physical, mental, intellectual, emotional and spiritual levels. Yoga, through its physical postures (asana), breathing practices (pranayama), cleansing techniques (kriya), meditation therapies (dhyana) and relaxation training (yoga nidra) yields a positive effect in the management of stress. Yoga consists of specific postures coordinated with breathing, meditation, and concentration to focus and calm the mind.
Physical asana
Asanas helps reducing obesity, maintain in discipline, decreasing anger and panic attacks in children. Health problems of children such as headaches, stomachaches, constipation, back pain, and colds or sinus problems are cured or improved with a yoga practice as well as a decreased need for medication for children.
Leads towards spiritiuality
Yoga means the integration of body, mind, and spirit, and connection between the self and a divine. Being that leads to self- realization or one’s true identity – the authentic self. Yoga helps individuals focus attention. Humans are viewed as consciousness-energy (cit-shakti), and the physical body surrounds this underlying existence. Yoga as a traditional practice was thought to lead to self -transformation through transcendence of the ego. The mind and breath are intimately connected so that influencing the one will affect the other. Yoga develops the spiritual side of our nature, morality, justice, truthfulness, love, and sacrifice for the common good, peace and discipline in children. An important aspect of spirituality is Spiritual empowerment which comes through prayer, self-less service to mankind; serving one’s parents, to be loving, keeping our self and our ego in disciplined check, courtesy and humility, firmly upholding the principle of justice, being self-less or detached etc. These qualities come through the love of god.
Pranayama
Yoga is very useful for adolescence for calm down their mind and bring awareness also helps to manage stress from all aspects also influence well beings and good health. Yoga provides a non-threatening and gentle method to increase physical fitness and enhance health and well being.It enhance imagination concentration, and academic performance and also improves attention deficient problems being.
Diet therapy
The fastest growth periods of a children’s life need healthy nutritional food which is important for supporting the growing body, for preventing future health problems. Food which reduce fat is advice able Fitness is important than looking slim. Balance diet is important for obesity
Increased nutritional needs
Calories : boys- 2500-2800 Calories /day, girls- 2200 Calories/day
Protein: 45-60g
Calcium: 1200 mg/day
Iron boys: 12 mg/day, 15 mg/day
Recommended food: Milk & Milk products (Curd, Paneer), Green vegetables, Fruits, Cereals
Soups, Juices, Regular meals, Balanced Diet
Avoided food: Pizza ~ Burger ~ Sandwich, Aerated drinks / Preserved Juices, Coffee / Cocktails / Mocktails, French Fries. Avoid food with fat.
Food habit may lead to Anemia, eating disorder and hormonal dis balance. Skipping the breakfast and meals should avoid and keep habit of fiber fruits and raw vegetable.
Exercise & Physical Activity: Playing game, visiting new place develop:
Improves your strength & endurance, Bones & muscles becomes more healthy, Avoids weight gain, Reduces anxiety & stress, Increases self-esteem, confidence.
Life style should be:
Regular, Simple, Optimistic, Helping hand, interdependence, Getting involved in humanitarian activities, Respecting social values & spirituality.
Pranayama
Yoga is very useful for adolescence for calm down their mind and bring awareness also helps to manage stress from all aspects also influence well beings and good health. Yoga provides a non-threatening and gentle method to increase physical fitness and enhance health and well being.It enhance imagination concentration, and academic performance and also improves attention deficient problems being.
Diet therapy
The fastest growth periods of a children’s life need healthy nutritional food which is important for supporting the growing body, for preventing future health problems. Food which reduce fat is advice able Fitness is important than looking slim. Balance diet is important for obesity
Increased nutritional needs
Calories : boys- 2500-2800 Calories /day, girls- 2200 Calories/day
Protein: 45-60g
Calcium: 1200 mg/day
Iron boys: 12 mg/day, 15 mg/day
Recommended food: Milk & Milk products (Curd, Paneer), Green vegetables, Fruits, Cereals
Soups, Juices, Regular meals, Balanced Diet
Avoided food: Pizza ~ Burger ~ Sandwich, Aerated drinks / Preserved Juices, Coffee / Cocktails / Mocktails, French Fries. Avoid food with fat.
Food habit may lead to Anemia, eating disorder and hormonal dis balance. Skipping the breakfast and meals should avoid and keep habit of fiber fruits and raw vegetable.
Exercise & Physical Activity: Playing game, visiting new place develop:
Improves your strength & endurance, Bones & muscles becomes more healthy, Avoids weight gain, Reduces anxiety & stress, Increases self-esteem, confidence.
Life style should be:
Regular, Simple, Optimistic, Helping hand, interdependence, Getting involved in humanitarian activities, Respecting social values & spirituality.
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by Tirtha Acharya | Sep 26, 2016 | Yoga
Hypertension is a major public health issue and affects approximately billion of people worldwide and is a major risk factor in the development of stroke and cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. Hypertension is a non-communicable disease having high prevalence and a concomitant increase in the risk of disease. This disease leads to cause of death for both men and women worldwide and also increase the risk of developing anxiety and depression.
Hypertension is caused due to increase in the volume of blood as a result increase pressure in the lateral wall of the vessel. It is also defined as blood pressure which exceeds 140mmhg over 90mmhg. Blood pressure has two terminologies; systolic pressure which means an output of blood from the heart when it contracts and diastolic mean when the heart is at rest. The normal value of systolic is 120mmhg and diastolic is 80mmHg. Blood pressure depends upon the action. When a body is at rest at night, it falls down and when the body is at work or exceeds to high. Hypertension is classified as primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension is due to genetic factors and nonspecific lifestyle. Secondary hypertension defined as high blood pressure due to an know cause such as chronic kidney disease, narrowing arteries of kidney and endocrine disorder.
Causes of hypertension
The exact cause of hypertension is unknown but several factors effects on its development.
Sedentary lifestyle
Intake of more salt
Stress
Genetics
Sign and symptoms of hypertension
Usually, it is asymptomatic which means patients does not feel any discomfort. It is also called silent killer as it damages the heart silently. Some of the symptoms are:
A headache persists with high blood pressure
Pain in the back of the head
Vertigo
Prevention of hypertension through yoga
In this modern era, all non-communicable disease including hypertension is induced due to stress. Adhija vyadhi means stress born disease. The stress reaction causing autonomic and endocrine imbalance leading to disease in the gross body.
We are only concern to cure the physical body. Since the disease arises from the inner astral layer of our existence. So the yoga therapy that provides techniques for correcting the problem at both from the gross and subtle levels. Yoga practices help in bringing about balance at the level of the five kosas (panca kosas) so that complete health can be restored. Panca Kosa was found to be the most holistic concept of human existence which is in no way contracting the modern scientific approach to the understanding of human body. It is more generalized, holistic and hence can contain in it the physical body (annamaya kosa) the next three layers pranamaya, manomaya and vijnanamaya kosas which are called the subtle bodies in the Vedanta and spiritual lore. The fifth kosa the anandamaya kosa is the causal body from where all the other layers take birth. Thus we got a holistic and concrete perspective of human existence as the foundation for yoga therapy. The practices at annamaya kosa include yogaasanas, sithilikarana, vyayama(loosening practices) yoga diet and yoga kriya at pranamaya kosa, breathing practices, breathing kriyas and pranayama. At the manomaya kosa, the practices are meditation (cyclic meditation and om meditation), devotional sessions and happy assembly whereas lectures, counseling and satsangs corrects the notions about one life style of the individual. Karma yoga and tuning to nature are the practices that help one to get established in anandamaya kosa bringing bliss in our lives.
Yoga pacifies the sympathetic nervous system and slow down the heart and relax muscles and mind deeply. It is the holistic science which manage the hypertension from root level. Some of the beneficial practices for hypertension are as follows:
Standing practices
Hastauthanasana
Twisting
Rotation of hip
Ardha cakrasana
Ardhakati cakrasana
Garudasana
Vrichya asana (tree postures)
Sitting practices
Gaumukh asana
Ustrasana
Ardamatyandra asana
Vakrasana
Supine practices
Savaasana
naukasana
Prone practices
Bhujangaasana
Salamba asana
Pranayama (Breathing practices)
Pranayama is the breathing exercise which is equally beneficial. Conscious breathing quickly lowers blood pressure. Pranayama can practice in sitting position with adopting any mudra. The back and neck should be straight while practicing. It can be practice in lying down to encourages the breath to arise smoothly without any force. There should be no strain in body but it should be relax completely. Some of the breathing exercise are:
Naddhisuddhi
Bramari
Right nostril breathing
Left nostril breathing
Bastrika
Sectional breathing
Hand stretch out breathing 3 stage
Tiger breathing
Sitali
Sitkari
Diet for hypertension
Diet therapy is an important factor in overall care of GI patients. Diet plays a vital role for the proper function of the cardiovascular. Food should be fresh. Sattwik vegetable food is preferable. All the green leafy vegetable which produce antioxidant are beneficial.
- Eat more fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods.
- Cut back on foods that are high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and Trans fats.
- Eat more whole-grain foods, poultry, and nuts.
- Limit sodium, sweets, sugary drinks, red meats.
- Magnesium, potassium and fiber help to control the blood pressure
Treatment of hypertension from sat karma
Satkarma
Satkarma is a very precise and systematic holistic science. The satkarma is briefly describe in hatha yoga pradipika. The Sanskrit meaning of satkarma: sat is six and karma means actions. Satkarma consists of six internal purification techquies. It helps to create harmonies in the body by balancing the two pranic flow ida and pigala. The six satkarma are as follows:
Neti
It is process of purifying of the respiratory tract and the nasal cavity. It includes jalaneti and sutra neti
Dhauti
It is aslo called vamana dhouti which the cleansing process of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Nauli
A method of massaging and strenghting the abdominal organs.
Kapalvati
It is a breathing techniques for purifiying the brain and skull. It helps to create shining in the brain
Trataka
It is the intense practice of gazing eyes in one point or spot to increase power of concentration. It is excellent exercise of the eyeball.
Conclusion
Yoga is the holistic science which provide us many techniques to tone up our body internally and externally. Asana helps to strengthen our muscles and bones and pranayama which makes easy for pranic flow. The satkarma helps to cleansing our internal organ. Yoga provides positive energy in our human body without any side effects.
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by Tirtha Acharya | Sep 26, 2015 | Yoga
“Astanga” literally means ‘eight limbs’ and was created by the great sage Patanjali. He was the first to coin a systematized approach to yoga through the Yoga Sutras, one of the foundational texts of yoga. These eight ‘limbs’ are an ordered set of steps, which support each other and work together to guide practitioner towards the pathway of yoga -the divine union of body mind and soul,leading towards a state of self realization and liberation Patanjali describes the 8 limbs of Astanga yoga as:
- Yama (abstinences): Yama helps to keep social discipline.
- Niyama (Observances): Niyama helps to keep self Discipline.
- Asana (Physical postures): The asana focus on a daily physical practice to strengthen, purify and energize the body, eventually leading to a steady, controlled mind and a healthy nervous system. Daily practice of asana one acquires a strong, handsome and radiant personality. It works from the bone level to the exterior cells level. More than 84 asanas (postures) and Surya Namaskara (Sun salutation) will be taught starting from basic postures to more advanced posture. Sun salutation is part of Astanga yoga. It has powerful ability to lubricate the entire spine and maintain the healthy functioning of the endocrines system.
- Pranayama ( breathing control and expanding ): The words Praṇayama refers to lengthen, control and regulate the breath. Pranayama is practiced to develop mental, physical and spiritual strength. Practice o f Pranayamas also helps in attaining mastery over the senses. Consequently, the aspirant who has attained mastery over the senses becomes qualified for Samadhi (state of super consciousness).
- Pratyahara(Withdrawal of sensory organs):The fifth step of Astanga yoga is pratyahara related to the senses and senses- objects. By attening perfection of pratyahara one acquires mastery over all objects of enjoyment, whether they are worldly or spiritual and whether they are enjoyed by gross or subtle senses.
- Dharana(concentration): Dharana is final step of preparation for meditation. Practice of Dharana helpes to focus their mind easily in meditation so that they can take joy and benefit of meditation.
- Dhyana(Meditation): Meditation means to drop everything which is in one’s memory and to come to state where only consciousness remains, where only awareness remains. When only consciousness remains without an object, that state is called meditation. Through different techniques a moment will come when the body seems to have disappeared and thoughts have also disappeared. When everything has disappeared, that which is left behind is called meditation.
- Samadhi(Super-consciousness):Samadhi gives the meaning of solution. It means your internal and external problem will be solves by experiencing Samadhi. Samadhi is highest state of consciousness. This is the state mastery of the mind.
by Tirtha Acharya | May 13, 2014 | Yoga
The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj”, which means union, join or integrate. So the art which unifies the body, mind, and soul is called yoga. Yoga has evolved over thousands of years to embrace all the religion, caste, gender, age and all the human being on this planet earth. Yoga itself is simply a tool for exploring the depth of our human nature, of realizing the mysteries of the body, mind, and soul. Yoga and meditation are an intensely powerful way of life, that help the practitioner to explore and discover the inner energies and a true source of peace. Yoga has a holistic approach of life to invite peace and harmony and equanimity within.
In modern time yoga is taken as two main purposes; one is to achieve liberation and next as effective therapeutic procedure for healthcare which helps to cure and prevents many chronic disorders related to body and mind. Yoga is a great way to experience true well being which takes you inward in your depth. It’s your private, long and never-ending journey till you achieve liberation.
In the west, yoga has become synonymous of physical postures and exercises. However, yoga posture (asana) is just one small branch of yoga. Yoga is like an ocean and yoga posture is a drop. Yoga is an ancient scientific art for spiritual discovery which unites individual soul to universal soul. The real aim of yoga is to unite the aspirant with God (Universal source). Yoga is the spiritual science that teaches us how the Ultimate Reality can be realized in life itself. Don’t be afraid of your thoughts process, expand your consciousness and be one with the universal soul.
The essential message of yoga is ‘to know oneself and to find the god which is hidden within you. The path of yoga leads to this common goal of union with God, but there are many pathways, yogic traditions, and styles. Yoga offers practical methods for controlling body and mind and brings them into mutual harmony. Yoga teaches how to still the mind and attain higher states of awareness.
Yoga states that our “true nature” goes far beyond the limits of the human mind and can achieve the goodness within.
In the modern world, we have become quite successful in our external achievements because of powerful technologies, we are obsessed with accumulating power, wealth, property and objects and yet we have not been able to create either individual or social peace, wisdom, or happiness. If all of us practice yoga as a part of life the earth can be a paradise that we imagine.
When you ask your friends after few months of gap about their new happenings, they would answer with excitement that they have been doing ‘yoga’. They would then start to share their experience and ideas on the subject of yoga. They would tell you that they are feeling very refreshed even though some of the parts of the body is aching. Some of your friends may have no idea actually what yoga is all about. Some of your friends would tell you they have joined yoga classes to relieve themselves from the stress and anxiety coming out of the hectic work schedule where you need much amount of mental energy. It means to say that yoga has touted as one of the most popular subjects as far as physical fitness is concerned in recent years. Moreover, it has received a huge amount of respect and response as a highly growing field of study and practice. Yoga asana has been utilized as the exercise of keeping our body fit and fine alternate of going gym or simultaneously with it. In this sense, yoga has been one of the daily activities that have been incorporated into our lifestyle. Then what yoga really is. What does it mean?
In general sense, yoga has been popularized as the synonymous with asana (physical posture). The practice of asanas has been referred to the practice of yoga by the most of the people. However, we should not misunderstand asana as exercise. Even more importantly, our understanding of yoga should not get confined to asana only even though asana is the most popular branch of yoga. The reason behind joining the yoga school is to learn about asanas and its physical benefits in life has been the real motto for many people. Indeed, it’s very one part of the greater and grandeur aspect called ‘yoga’. When you have started practicing asanas, you are actually on the journey of yoga. With your involvement in asana, you start your path to yoga.
In a deeper level, we’ve already been doing yoga even if we may not have heard and known about it. The life itself is the result of yoga. Before moving in such a profundity of yogic definition, it’s always important to figure out what is yoga. The word ‘yoga’ has Sanskrit origin. Its root is ‘yuj’ which means to yoke, to combine, to the union, to add. In wider understanding, it’s the union of individual self with supreme self. This union between small ‘i’ and big ‘I’ is yoga. The journey to assimilate with Supreme Self is the greatest goal of human being following the path of yoga. In front of this broad perspective of yoga, the physical aspect comes at the fundamental level. Through the journey of controlling our body and mind with the practice of yoga, we commence our abstract and eternal path of yoga.
Different yogis define yoga in different ways. According to Panini, the following different meanings can be given to yoga:
- Yuj samadhau: Yoga means attaining Samadhi state, i.e., state of higher consciousness.
- Yuj yoge: Union of the individual self (Atma) with Universal Self (Paramatma)to attain the state infinite bliss and peace.
- Yuj samyamane: Censuring thought waves in the mental pond to see the self within clearly.
According to Ahirbudhnya Samhita, yoga is the union between the individual soul and the Universal Soul. The Sanskrit line is as follows:
Samyoga yoga ityuko jivatma paramatmanah ||
(P. 17, Light on Ashtanga Yoga)
The Bhagavad Geeta says ‘Equanimity is Yoga.’ The Sanskrit line is ‘Samattvam yoga ucchyate||’ (P. 18, Light on Ashtanga Yoga). The equanimity of the mind to being balanced state of mind in layman understanding where you would not get distracted by the external affairs. The state of mind is totally in control of yourself. This is the situation of yoga. In an elaborative sense as BKS Iyengar writes in his book, ‘Light on Ashtanga Yoga’:
There should be a thorough understanding between the intelligence of the soul and the intelligence of the consciousness. The soul with all its vehicles, namely Citta-consciousness, karmendriya-s- organs of action, jnanendriya-s- sense of perception, ahamkara-ego, buddhi-intelligence, and manas-mind, have to be unified and integrated so that one realizes the pureness of the soul. (19)
In this state of realizing soul, one comes to understand that the soul in everybody is the same which results in considering and behaving others with equanimity.
And another definition of yoga in Bhagavad Geeta defines ‘Yoga is skillfulness in action.’ The Sanskrit line is ‘Yogah Karma-su Kausalam ||’. In this statement on yoga, the importance has been emphasized on action which should be skillful. The quality of being skillful in action doesn’t mean to have any action with skill. The condition applies in that skillful action is the condition of being selfless. In spite of being selfless, one has to have an aim in one’s action. Iyengar explains, “Lord Krishna is not saying to do the action aimlessly. He is saying that it is the selfish motive behind the action that one has to avoid.”(19, Light on Ashtanga Yoga).
Maharshi Patanjali defines, “Atha Yoganusasanam II” and Yogah citta vrtti nirodhah II”. The journey of Yoga for Patanjali can be started with the disciplined mind. This discipline mind has to be regulated to control the modification of the mind. The essence of these two sutras has been assimilated with ‘abhyasa’ and ‘vairagya’. The action which we begin should be practiced with the sense of dispassion or renunciation. In the definition of BKS Iyengar, “Yoga dukhavrtti nirodhah II- Yoga is restraint of the sorrows of the citta.” (P.23, Light on Ashtanga Yoga). By the practice of yoga, one wants to remove the pains and sorrows from his/her body and mind. It doesn’t mean that one has to start yoga practice only getting rid of the disease and physical suffering of the body. It means rather the practice of yoga leads you to the path where you experience no sorrow resulted out of the fluctuated mind and derogated body.
Mukunda Stiles in his book, “Structural Yoga Therapy” talks about the two dimensions of the yoga; the one which is obvious and another which is secret. Giving the analogy of a tree, he further says that a tree has a trunk, branches, and leaves above the ground which absorbs the nutrition from the sun. The hidden roots bring the energy from the soil and water underneath. This idea has been further described by Stiles mentioning about Shakti which is obvious and in constant motion and the eternal and unchanging is Siva. The part of Shakti is exoteric and the Siva aspect is esoteric. Thus Yoga is the way of creating a harmonious relationship between different aspects specifically: esoteric and exoteric. He writes, “The yoga teachings regarding bringing the body, mind, and emotion into harmony, such as Hath Yoga, are exoteric. Those teachings focused on the outer self in harmony with the Inner Self, such as Classical Yoga, are esoteric (P.6, Structural Yoga Therapy).” He further writes on yoga as being unique to five other classical Indian philosophical systems, “Yoga is based on a process of physical and mental training culminating in the direct experience of realizing the universal Self within everyone (P.6, Structural Yoga Therapy).”
Yoga and Religion
Yoga is not a religion but a way of life. Yoga and meditation is not a religion, although some of the principles are contained within the various religions. On this planet, Earth people who want to discover the peace within from all religions, faiths, and backgrounds can practice yoga. Interestingly, the Bhagavad Gita makes clear that regardless of any religion, principle and theology yoga is an individual journey that requires lifelong dedication, consistent practice, and devotion to achieve liberation from this worldly life.
Some religious people say yoga is essentially a Hindu religious practice and that chanting “OM” but it is absolutely wrong. Due to physical and mental benefits, we chant Aum in Yoga. We use mantra to achieve mastery over monkey mind in spite to follow the religion or some principles. Yoga believes the divine or Supreme Being resides within all that exists, and all humans, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender, have the ability to achieve moksha (ultimate freedom).
Religion is getting to be a good business and politics which is creating different war and fragmentation between the human being. Yoga includes the freedom and purification of a human being which integrates all religion, nation, and human being. Yoga has the potential to balance the nervous system and still the mind through its various exercises techniques like posture, breathing and meditation. Yoga seeks to put you in touch with your inner self to realize who or what you truly are.
Benefits of Yoga
The benefits of yoga include a physical, mental and spiritual transformation of mankind. Yoga can change your physical and mental condition within few days practice of yoga. Yoga has numerous benefits for mankind among them major benefits are as follows:
- Yoga enhances emotional steadiness and clarity of mind.
- The practice of yoga helps to attach the strength and flexibility of the body.
- Yoga advances the functioning of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive and hormonal systems of the body.
- It also releases the body’s toxins of various kind such as emotional, mental and physical.
- It helps to yoke self-development and self-realization.
- The harmonious, healthy and happy life can be maintained and developed with the practice of yoga.
- It empowers our immune system.
- Yoga develops powerful spiritual awareness towards life processes.
- It tones the muscles, nerves, and bones.
- The metabolism efficiency can be generated with the regular practice of yoga.
- It also tones endocrine gland system.
- It also helps to delay the aging process by making your body refreshed and rejuvenated by eradicating unnecessary and wastes of the body.
- The yoga practice supports to make your body, brain, and senses get calmed.
- You get sound sleep by the practice of yoga.
- Yoga creates a strong mind-body connection.
- The anxiety, anger, and frustration can be relieved too much extent by the practice of yoga.
- It also establishes the harmony between body and mind.
- It also helps to develop the positive thinking about the life.
- Yoga has the greater impact on memory power and concentration.
Aum Shanti! Shanti!! Shanti!!!
